Method for facilitating control of a bathing unit system and control panel implementing same

ABSTRACT

A method and a control panel are described for facilitating the control of a bathing unit system so that the bathing unit system is caused to transition between operating in accordance with a first operational mode to operating in accordance with a second operational mode. A control signal is generated in response to a unitary user input event performed by a user at a control panel of the bathing unit system, the control signal conveying an ambiance activation command associated with a specific ambience setting, the generation of the control signal comprising selecting the specific ambience setting from a set of ambience settings stored in a memory device. The control signal is then transmitted from the control panel to the controller over a communication link where it is processed to cause the bathing unit system to transition from being in the rest mode to operating in accordance with the specific ambience setting. The method and a control panel may allow simplifying the control of the bathing unit system in order to achieve a desired total effect by allowing a user to cause the bathing unit to operate in accordance with an ambience setting by way of a unitary user input event performed at the control panel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of bathing unitsystems, and more specifically, to a method and control panelfacilitating the control of operational settings in a bathing unitsystem to cause the bathing unit system to transition between operatingin accordance with a first operational mode to operating in accordancewith a second operational mode.

BACKGROUND

Bathing units, such as spas, typically include various bathing unitcomponents that are used in operating the bathing unit system. Thebathing unit components generally include pumps that circulate waterthrough a piping system, pumps for activating water jets, at least oneheating module to heat the water, a filter system, an air blower, anozone generator, a lighting system, and a controller that activates andmanages the various operational settings of the bathing unit components.Other types of bathing units that have similar components include, forinstance, whirlpools, hot tubs, bathtubs, therapeutic baths, andswimming pools.

In addition to bathing unit components used for regulating the operationof the bathing unit system, additional features that provide addedentertainment are increasingly being included as part of bathing unitsystems. An example of such a feature includes lighting elements forproviding visual stimulation to users of the bathing unit system. Anexample of a lighting element using multicolor LEDs was described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,744,223 entitled “Multicolor lamp system” issued on Jun.1, 2004 to B. Laflamme et al. Other features include multimedia elementsproviding audio and/or video functionality. Examples of audio systemsfor spas have been described in U.S. patent publication no.: US2002/0025050 A1, entitled “Spa Audio System Operable With A RemoteControl” filed on May 24, 2001 by S. S. Macey; in U.S. patentpublication no.: 2004/0047484 A1, entitled “Sound system, a speakerassembly, and a method for providing sound for a spa” filed on Sep. 5,2003 by W. J. Gardenier et al. and U.S. patent publication no.:2010/0070059 A1, entitled “Bathing unit control system providingmultimedia functionality, telephone functionality and/or data networkaccess functionality and bathing unit system including same” filed onNov. 16, 2009 by B. Laflamme et al.

Most modern bathing unit control systems include a control panel that isin communication with the bathing unit controller. A user of the bathingunit system can use the control panel in order to adjust and control theactivation and settings of the various bathing unit components. It isknown in the art to have a user control interface that provides the userwith a display screen and buttons for allowing a user to control thefunctionality of the various bathing unit components.

Traditionally, each operational parameter of a bathing unit isindependently set by a user in order to achieve a desired total effectin the bathing unit system. For example, if the user wishes to achieve arelaxed ambiance in the bathing unit, he/she may select low lighting,spa jets at a medium speed, calming music at a low volume and to havethe filtration system turned off to reduce the noise level. Each of theparameters is set independently by the user who must choose anoperational setting for these parameters using the controls provided ona control interface. This can be a time-consuming and frustratingactivity for the user.

A deficiency with controllers and user control panels of the typedescribed above is that they do not provide suitable functionality forallowing the user of the bathing unit system to adjust and activate thedesired operational settings for the bathing unit components in arelatively quick and convenient manner.

In order to alleviate this deficiency, various solutions have beenproposed in which different sets of operational settings for differentbathing unit components can be stored in a memory, each setcorresponding to a respective desired total effect (or ambience) for thebathing unit system. In some solutions, a menu driven interface isprovided, either at the control panel or via another computing device,through which a user can navigate and be presented with a set ofselectable total effect (or ambience) options. Upon selection of one ofthe presented options, the bathing unit system is caused to applycorresponding operational settings to different bathing unit componentsin the system in order to achieve the corresponding desired total effect(or ambience). Some examples of solutions of this type are described inU.S. patent publication No. 20140108986 A1, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference. While some of these solutions maysimplify the control of the bathing unit system in order to achieve adesired total effect, options still need to be displayed to the userand/or the user is still required to navigate through a menu-driveninterface and/or the user is required to make one or more selections inorder for the desired total effect (or ambience) to be achieved in thebathing unit system.

Against the background described above, there is a need in the industryto provide a method and a control panel that further facilitates thecontrol of the operational settings in bathing unit systems thatalleviate at least in part the problems associated with existing methodsand devices.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect, a method for causing a bathing unitsystem to transition from being in a rest mode to operating inaccordance with an ambience setting is proposed. The bathing systemincludes a set of bathing unit components, a controller for operatingthe set of bathing unit components and a control panel in communicationwith the controller. The method comprises generating a control signal inresponse to a unitary user input event performed by a user at thecontrol panel, the control signal conveying an ambiance activationcommand associated with a specific ambience setting, the generation ofthe control signal comprising selecting the specific ambience settingfrom a set of ambience settings stored in a memory device. The methodfurther comprises transmitting the control signal conveying the ambianceactivation command from the control panel to the controller over acommunication link. The method further comprises, at the controller,processing the control signal conveying the ambiance activation commandreceived from the control panel to cause the bathing unit system totransition from being in the rest mode to operating in accordance withthe specific ambience setting.

Advantageously, the proposed method may allow simplifying the control ofthe bathing unit system in order to achieve a desired total effect byallowing a user to cause the bathing unit to operate in accordance withan ambience setting by way of a unitary user input event performed atthe control panel.

In specific examples of implementation of the method, the control panelmay include a display screen and the method may comprise causing thedisplay screen to display information in response to the unitary userinput event performed by the user at the control panel, the displayedinformation conveying the selected specific ambiance setting.

In some specific practical implementations of the method, the memorydevice may store one or more ambience settings including the specificambience setting. The specific ambience setting may be characterized byat least a first operational setting for at least one bathing unitcomponent of a first type and a second operational setting for at leastone bathing unit component of a second type. In such implementations,the bathing unit system may be caused to transition from being in therest mode to operating in accordance with the specific ambience settingat least in part by having the controller operate a corresponding one ofthe at least one bathing unit component of the first type according tothe first operational setting and operate a corresponding one of the atleast one bathing unit component of the second type according to thesecond operational setting.

In some specific practical implementations, the control panel mayinclude a user operable actuator and the unitary user input eventperformed at the control panel may be an actuation of the user operableactuator by the user at the control panel. The nature of the useroperable actuator, and therefore the nature of the type of actuationperformed by the user at the control panel, may differ in differentimplementations. For example, the user operable actuator may be in theform of a tactile zone on a display, a mechanically operated actuator(such as a switch or a button for example), a light detection module, amovement detection module and/or any other suitable user operableactuator allowing a user to perform a unitary user input event.Depending on the nature of the user operable actuator, the unitary userinput event may be manual, visual (for example light), auditory (noise)and (or) kinesthetic (movement) for example. In a specific non-limitingimplementation, the user operable actuator is in the form of a tactilezone on the control panel providing haptic feedback in response to auser performing a touch or push-button like action. In another specificnon-limiting implementation, the user operable actuator is in the formof a mechanically operated actuator and the unitary user input event isa manual actuation.

In some specific practical implementations in which the control panelincludes a user operable actuator and in which the unitary user inputevent performed at the control panel is an actuation of the useroperable actuator by the user at the control panel, the selection of thespecific ambience setting from the set of ambience settings may beperformed based on one or more criteria independent from informationprovided by the user through the actuation of the user operableactuator. For example, the selection of the specific ambience settingfrom the set of ambience settings may correspond:

-   -   (1) to an ambience setting in the set of ambience settings most        recently used to operate the bathing unit system;    -   (2) to a default ambience setting, which may be pre-determined        and stored in the memory at the time the control panel is        configured or may be programmed by a user at another time and        stored on the memory.

Alternatively, or in combination with the above, the selection of thespecific ambience setting from the set of ambience settings may be basedon other criteria, such as current timing information and/or useridentification information and/or ambient temperature information.

In a first specific non-limiting implementation, at least some ambiencesettings in the set of ambience settings may be associated to respectivetime periods. In such implementation, the selection of the specificambience setting from the set of ambience settings stored in the memorydevice may be performed at least in part by processing informationassociated with current timing information (which may convey one or moreof month information, weekday information, period of day information,hours and/or minutes for example). In this manner the specific ambiencesetting selected may vary according to the time of day (e.g. morning orevening) or the day of the week (e.g. weekday or weekend) or time ofyear (e.g. winter months or summers months).

In a second specific non-limiting implementation, at least some ambiencesettings in the set of ambience settings may be associated to respectiveambient temperatures or ambient temperature ranges. In suchimplementation, the control panel may include (or be in communicationwith) a temperature sensor and the selection of the specific ambiencesetting from the set of ambience settings stored in the memory devicemay be performed at least in part by processing information conveyingambient temperature measurements obtained from the temperature sensor.In this manner the specific ambience setting selected may vary accordingto the ambient temperature (e.g. warm day, cold day, sunny, cloudy,humidity level and the like).

In a third specific non-limiting implementation, at least some ambiencesettings in the set of ambience settings may be associated withrespective user identifiers. In such implementation, the selection ofthe specific ambience setting from the set of ambience settings storedin the memory device may be performed at least in part by processinginformation associated with a user identity. In this manner the specificambience setting selected may vary according to the user of the bathingunit system so that a distinct desired total effect may be achieveddepending on who is using the bathing unit system.

In some practical implementations, the information associated with theuser identity may be received at the control panel via a useridentification signal, which may originate from an auxiliary deviceexternal to the bathing unit system.

In specific non-limiting implementations of a first type, the useridentification signal may be transmitted over a wireless communicationlink, such as for example a radio frequency (RF) link, directly to thecontrol panel. In some implementations of this type, the control panelmay be equipped with hardware and software components suitable to allowthe control panel to establish a wireless communication link withauxiliary devices to receive the user identification signal. In specificpractical implementations, the auxiliary device may be any suitabledevice capable of communicating information conveying user identityinformation such as, for example but without being limited to, asmartphone, a smartwatch, a wearable electronic activity tracker (suchas a fitness band) and/or a near-field communication (NFC) or RFIDenabled device. In a specific practical example of implementation, theauxiliary device may be in the form of an RFID or NFC chip implanted ina portion of a user's body (for example in a user's hand, arm, leg orother suitable body part). Any suitable communication protocol andassociated software/hardware component may be provided to allow thecontrol panel to receive the user identification signal from theauxiliary device. In a non-limiting example of implementation, aprotocol suitable for short range communication, such as Bluetooth forexample, may be used. In specific non-limiting implementations of asecond (alternative) type, rather than being transmitted to the controlpanel directly from the auxiliary device, the user identification signalmay be transmitted over a wireless communication link to the controlpanel through one or more other component of the bathing unit system,such as for example through the controller of the bathing unit and/orthrough an audio/visual component of the system. In implementations ofthis alternate type, the controller, audio/visual component and/or othercomponent of the bathing unit system may be equipped with hardware andsoftware components suitable to allow establishing a wirelesscommunication link with the auxiliary device (to receive the useridentification signal) and to establish another communication link withthe control panel over which data conveying the user identity may betransmitted.

In some specific practical implementations, the criteria for selectingthe specific ambience setting from the set of ambience settings storedin the memory device may be used independently or in combination. Forexample, a specific ambience setting may be associated to a specificuser and to certain timing information (time of day and/or day of theweek). Many other combinations are possible and will become apparent topersons skilled in the art in light of the present document.

In accordance with a second aspect, a topside control panel for abathing unit system is proposed, the topside control panel comprising:

-   -   a) a housing;    -   b) a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly positioned        upon the housing, the touch or presence-sensitive assembly        including one or more tactile zones for associating user tactile        input to software-implemented actions;    -   c) a circuit board assembly positioned in the housing, the        circuit board assembly being electrically coupled to the display        touch or presence-sensitive assembly, said circuit board        including:        -   i) a memory device storing a set of ambience settings; and        -   ii) a processor in communication with said memory device,            said processor being programmed for:            -   1) generating a control signal in response to a unitary                user tactile input event performed by a user in                connection with a specific one of the one or more                tactile zones, the control signal conveying an ambiance                activation command associated with a specific ambience                setting, the generation of the control signal comprising                selecting the specific ambience setting from the set of                ambience settings stored in the memory device;            -   2) transmitting the control signal over a communication                link to a controller associated with the bathing unit                system for causing the bathing unit system to transition                from being in a rest mode to operating in accordance                with the specific ambience setting.

In some specific examples of implementation, the display touch orpresence-sensitive assembly of the topside control panel may beresponsive to changes in capacitance resulting from touching or closeproximity of an object to the touch or presence-sensitive layer togenerate and transmit signals to the processor. The specific one of theone or more tactile zones may provide haptic feedback and/or may includea mechanical actuator.

In some examples of implementation, the display touch orpresence-sensitive assembly may include a display screen portion and theprocessor may be programmed for causing the display screen to displayinformation conveying the specific ambiance setting selected in responseto the unitary user tactile input event performed by the user.

In some specific examples of implementation, the selection of thespecific ambience setting from the set of ambience settings stored inthe memory device, which may include one or two or more selectableambience settings, may be performed based on one or more criteriaindependent from information provided by the user through the unitaryuser tactile input event. For example, the selection of the specificambience setting from the set of ambience settings may correspond:

-   -   (1) to an ambience setting in the set of ambience settings most        recently used to operate the bathing unit system;    -   (2) to a default ambience setting, which may be pre-determined        and stored in the memory at the time the control panel is        configured or may be programmed by a user at another time and        stored on the memory.

Alternatively, or in combination with the above, the selection of thespecific ambience setting from the set of ambience settings may be basedon other criteria, such as current timing information and/or useridentification information and/or ambient temperature information.

In some specific practical implementations, at least some ambiencesettings in the set of ambience settings may be associated withrespective user identifiers. In such implementation, the selection ofthe specific ambience setting from the set of ambience settings storedin the memory device may be performed at least in part by processinginformation associated with a user identity. In this manner the specificambience setting selected may vary according to the user of the bathingunit system.

In some practical implementations, the information associated with theuser identity may be received at the topside control panel via a useridentification signal, which may originate from an auxiliary deviceexternal to the bathing unit system.

In specific non-limiting implementations of a first type, the useridentification signal may be transmitted to the topside control panelover a wireless communication link, such as for example a radiofrequency (RF) link, directly to the control panel. In someimplementations of this type, the control panel may be equipped withhardware and software components suitable to allow the control panel toestablish a wireless communication link with the auxiliary device toreceive the user identification signal. In specific practicalimplementations, the auxiliary device may be any suitable device capableof communicating information conveying user identity such as, forexample but without being limited to, a smartphone, a smartwatch, awearable electronic activity tracker (such as a fitness band) and/or anear-field communication (NFC) or RFID enabled device. In specificpractical example of implementation, the auxiliary device may be in theform of an RFID or NFC chip implanted in a portion of a user's body (forexample in a user's hand, arm, leg or other suitable body part). Anysuitable communication protocol and associated software/hardwarecomponent may be provided at the topside control panel to allow thetopside control panel to receive the user identification signal from theauxiliary device. In a non-limiting example of implementation, hardwareand a protocol suitable for short range communication, such as Bluetoothfor example, may be used.

In some implementations of the type described above, the processor oftopside control panel may be programmed for receiving a useridentification signal conveying user identification information and toselect the specific ambience setting from the set of ambience settingsstored in the memory device at least in part by processing the useridentification information.

In some specific practical implementations, the memory device of thetopside control panel may include a memory component responsive to auser identification signal carrying user identification informationreceived over a wireless communication link from an auxiliary deviceexternal to the topside control panel for causing a user preferenceupdate process to be performed at the topside control panel. The userpreference update process may include in some cases storing the useridentification information on the memory component.

In some implementations of the type described above, the selection ofthe specific ambience setting from the set of ambience settings storedin the memory device may include selecting the specific ambience settingat least in part by processing the user identification informationreceived from the auxiliary device.

In some specific practical implementations, the memory component of thecontrol panel may be a passive memory component responsive to the signalreceived from the auxiliary device and carrying user identificationinformation for drawing energy from that signal to activate the passivememory component and cause the identification information to be storedin the passive memory component. The wireless communication link may bea radio frequency (RF) communication link, such as for example a shortrange RF communication link, established between the memory componentand the auxiliary device.

In some specific practical implementation, the passive memory componentmay include a near field communication memory (NFC memory) and theauxiliary device external from which the signal conveying identificationinformation is received is embodied in an NFC enabled computing device.Advantageously, the use of an NFC memory on the topside control panelallows the user preference update process to be performed in the absenceof a source of electrical power to topside control panel. This may allowan ambience setting to be selected by a user on powering up of thetopside control panel.

In some specific practical implementations, the auxiliary device may beone of a smart phone, smart watch, wearable electronic activity tracker(such as a fitness band) or any other suitable device that may beestablish a communication link with the topside control panel.

In some alternate specific non-limiting implementations, rather thanbeing transmitted to the control panel directed from the auxiliarydevice, the user identification signal may be transmitted over awireless communication link to the control panel through one or moreother component of the bathing unit system, such as for example throughthe controller of the bathing unit and/or through an audio/visualcomponent of the system. In implementations of this alternate type, thecontroller, audio/visual component and/or other component of the bathingunit system may be equipped with hardware and software componentssuitable to allow establishing a wireless communication link with theauxiliary device (to receive the user identification signal) and toestablish another communication link with the control panel over whichdata conveying the user identity may be transmitted.

In accordance with another aspect, a bathing unit system is proposedcomprising a receptacle for holding water, a plurality of bathing unitcomponents including at least a circulation pump and a heater, acontroller for controlling operational settings associated with thebathing unit components and a topside control panel of the typesdescribed above. The topside control panel is in communication with thecontroller for allowing a user of the bathing unit system to controland/or monitor operational settings of at least some of the bathing unitcomponents in the bathing unit system.

In specific practical implementations, the receptacle for holding waterincludes a peripheral wall and the control panel is positioned on anupper portion of the peripheral wall of the receptacle.

In accordance with another aspect, a method is proposed for causing abathing unit system to transition from operating in a first operationalmode to operating in accordance with an ambience setting, the bathingsystem including a set of bathing unit components, a controller foroperating the set of bathing unit components and a control panel incommunication with the controller, the control panel including a useroperable actuator. The method comprises generating a control signal inresponse to a unitary user input event performed by a user at thecontrol panel, the control signal conveying an ambiance activationcommand associated with a specific ambience setting. The unitary userinput event performed at the control panel is an actuation of the useroperable actuator by the user at the control panel. The generation ofthe control signal comprises selecting the specific ambience settingfrom a set of ambience settings stored in a memory device, wherein theselection is performed based on criteria independent from informationprovided by the user through the actuation of the user operableactuator. The method further comprises transmitting the control signalconveying the ambiance activation command from the control panel to thecontroller over a communication link. The method further comprises, atthe controller, processing the control signal conveying the ambianceactivation command received from the control panel to cause the bathingunit system to transition from being in the first operating mode tooperating in accordance with the specific ambience setting.

In specific practical implementation, the first operational mode may bea rest mode or another ambience setting distinct from the specificambience setting.

All features of embodiments which are described in this disclosure andare not mutually exclusive can be combined with one another. Elements ofone embodiment can be utilized in the other embodiments without furthermention. Other aspects and features of the present invention will becomeapparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of thefollowing description of specific embodiments in conjunction with theaccompanying Drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention isprovided herein below, by way of example only, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a bathing system equipped with a controlpanel in accordance with a specific example of implementation of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the control panel of thebathing system in accordance with a specific example of implementationof the present invention, the control panel including a user interfacemodule and a processing assembly;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the control panel of FIG. 2 showing a firstspecific example of implementation of the user interface module;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the control panel of FIG. 2 showing a secondspecific example of implementation of the user interface module;

FIG. 5 shows a process according with a non-limiting example ofimplementation of the invention for causing the bathing unit systemshown in FIG. 1 to transition from operating according to a firstoperational mode to operating in accordance with a specific ambiencesetting;

FIG. 6 shows a functional block diagram of the processing assembly ofthe control panel of FIG. 2 in accordance with a non-limiting example ofimplementation of the present invention together with a functional blockdiagram of an auxiliary device suitable for providing useridentification information;

FIG. 7 shows an example of a graphical user interface that may bedisplayed on the user interface module of the control panel of FIG. 2following the processing of a unitary input event performed by a user atthe control panel in according with a non-limiting example ofimplementation of the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a bathing unit on which is installed on an outer peripheralwall a topside control panel in accordance with a specific practicalexample of implementation of the present invention.

In the drawings, the embodiments of the invention are illustrated by wayof examples. It is to be expressly understood that the description anddrawings are only for the purpose of illustration and are an aid forunderstanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the limits ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description below is directed to a specific implementation of theinvention in the context of a bathing unit system. It is to beunderstood that the term “bathing unit system”, as used for the purposesof the present description, refers to spas, whirlpools, hot tubs,bathtubs, therapeutic baths, swimming pools and any other type ofbathing unit that can be equipped with a controller and associated usercontrol interface for controlling various operational settings ofcomponent in the bathing unit system.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a bathing unit system 100 equippedwith a control system having a control panel 35 in accordance with aspecific example of implementation of the present invention.

The bathing unit system 100 includes a water receptacle 18 for holdingwater, a set of drains 22 and a control system 24 comprised of acontroller 34 and of the control panel 35. In the specific embodimentshown in FIG. 1, the bathing unit system 100 further includes a set ofbathing unit components (also referred to hereinafter as “comfortcomponents”) comprising a heating module 30, two water pumps 11 and 13,a plurality of jets 20, a filter 26 and an air blower 28. It should beunderstood that, in alternate embodiments, the bathing unit system 100could include more or less of the same or of different bathing unitcomponents. For example, although not shown in FIG. 1, the bathing unitsystem 100 may include an ozonator, a lighting system for lighting upthe water in the receptacle 18, multimedia devices such as an MP3player, a CD/DVD player as well as any other suitable device.

In normal operation, water flows from the bathing unit receptacle 18,through the drains 22 and is pumped by water pump 13 through the heatingmodule 30 where the water is heated. The heated water then leaves theheating module 30 and re-enters the bathing unit receptacle 18 throughjets 20. In addition, water flows from the bathing unit receptacle 18,through different drains 22 and is pumped by water pump 11 throughfilter 26. The filtered water then re-enters the bathing unit receptacle18 through different jets 20. Water can flow through these two cyclescontinuously while the bathing unit system 100 is in operation.Optionally, water can also flow from the bathing unit receptacle 18through one or more drains 22 to an air blower 28 that is operative fordelivering air bubbles to water that re-enters the bathing unitreceptacle 18 through jets 20.

In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the control system 24 includes acontroller 34 including circuitry for controlling the operationalsettings of the different components in the set of bathing unitcomponents 11, 13, 20, 26, 28, 30. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1,the circuitry for controlling the operational settings of the differentcomponents is shown as including a processor 40 and a memory 42 that arein communication with one another over a communication bus. Theprocessor 40 may be configured for accessing and processing programinstructions stored within the memory 42 for enabling the controller 34to control the set of bathing unit components 11, 13, 20, 26, 28 and 30at least in part on the basis of those program instructions and commandsreceived from a user, for example via the control panel 35.

As depicted, the controller 34 receives electrical power from anelectric power source 36 that is connected to the controller 34 viaservice wiring 31. The power source 36 supplies the controller 34 withany conventional power service suitable for residential or commercialuse. The controller 34 may then controls the distribution of powersupplied to the various bathing unit components 11, 13, 20, 26, 28, 30and to the control panel 35 in order to cause a desired operationalsettings to be implemented. Manners in which the controller 34 controlsthe operation of the individual bathing unit components of the bathingunit system, such as for example the jets 20, the drains 22, the heatingmodule 30, the water pumps 11 and 13, the filter 26, the air blower 24,a valve jet sequencer for massage, a variable speed pump with apre-programmed massage setting, a water fall, an aroma therapy deviceand an atomizer, as well as any lighting and multimedia components, arewell known in the art and are not critical to the invention and as suchwill not be described in further detail here.

In a non-limiting implementation, the power source 36 can supply 240volts (V) AC to the controller 34 via service wiring 31. In analternative non-limiting implementation, the power source 36 can supply120 volts (V) AC to the controller 34 via service wiring 31. In yet afurther alternative non-limiting implementation, the power source 36 cansupply 120 Volts and 240 Volts AC to the controller 34 via servicewiring 31. It is to be appreciated that other voltage supply values orvoltage supply combinations, for example depending on geographicallocation, are possible. In a non-limiting implementation, the servicewiring 31 is passed through a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)that is adapted for tripping in the presence of a current leakage to theground. The ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) provides an addedsafety measure to the bathing unit system.

The controller 34 is in communication with the control panel 35 overcommunication link 88, which may be a wire line data bus or a wirelesscommunication link for example, for receiving commands originating froma user input provided at the control panel 35. In some implementations,the controller 34 may also be configured for receiving commands fromauxiliary devices (not shown in FIG. 1) external to the bathing unitsystem 10, for example via RF signals, infrared signals, or via anetwork communication (over an Intranet or the Internet) in accordancewith any suitable method. One approach is described is U.S. Patentpublication No. US20130166965 A1 entitled “Method and system forproviding remote monitoring and control of a bathing system”. Otherapproaches are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,644,960 entitled “Method andsystem for providing ambiance settings in a bathing system” (in regardto FIG. 4 amongst other). The contents of the aforementioned documentsare incorporated herein by reference. These and various other approachesand systems for remotely controlling bathing unit systems are known inthe art and not critical to the invention and will thus not be describedfurther here.

As mentioned above, the bathing unit system 100 is equipped with acontrol panel 35 in accordance with a specific example of implementationof the present invention.

The control panel 35 provides an interface for allowing a user of thebathing unit system 100 to provide commands or other information to thecontroller 34 of the control system 24. In specific practicalimplementations, via the user control panel 35, a user may be able toenter commands that can be implemented by the controller 34 forcontrolling the activation and operational settings of the variousbathing unit components and for monitoring the operational status of thebathing unit components as well as for monitoring operationalcharacteristics of the bathing unit system, such as water temperature,ambient temperature and/or water quality for example.

In particular, the control panel 35 may send signals to the bathing unitcontroller 34 over a communication link 88 for controlling operationalsetting of bathing unit components in the system 100. Similarly, thecontrol panel 35 may receive over communication link 88 incoming signalsfrom the bathing unit controller 34, which can include signals conveyingoperational settings of the bathing unit system 100 and well as variousmetrics obtained through sensors (e.g. water temperatures sensor 71,ambient temperature sensor, water quality metrics sensors etc. . . . ).In some implementations, the control panel 35 may also receive from thebathing unit controller 34 data conveying user identificationinformation associated with a user of the bathing unit system. As such,via the control panel 35, a user is able to enter commands that can beimplemented by the controller 34 for controlling the activation andoperational settings of the various bathing unit components.

In specific practical implementations, the control panel 35 provides auser operable interface including one or more user operable inputdevices that allow a user to enter commands for causing the controller34 to control various operational settings of the bathing unitcomponents 11, 13, 20, 26, 28, 30 in accordance with the preferences ofa user. Some non-limiting examples of operational settings includetemperature control settings, jet control settings, and lightingsettings, among other possibilities. In a non-limiting embodiment wherethe bathing unit is connected to entertainment and/or multimediamodules, the operational settings of the bathing unit may also includeaudio settings and video settings, amongst others. Consequently, theexpression “operational settings”, for the purpose of the presentinvention, is intended to cover operational settings for any suitablebathing unit component or components that can be operated by a user ofthe bathing unit system 100.

The control panel 35 may further provide a menu driven interface throughwhich a user can navigate and be presented with a set of selectableambience options, wherein each ambience option is associated with arespective set of operational setting for different bathing unitcomponents, each set corresponding to a respective desired total effect(or ambience) for the bathing unit system. Upon selection of one of thepresented options, the bathing unit system is caused to applycorresponding operational settings to different bathing unit componentsin the system in order to achieve a corresponding desired total effect(or ambience). An example of such functionality is described in U.S.Pat. No. 8,644,960 entitled “Method and system for providing ambiancesettings in a bathing system”, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

As will become apparent from the present description, the control panel35 aims to provide functionality for allowing a user to cause thebathing unit system 100 to operate in accordance with an ambiencesetting by way of a unitary user input event performed at the controlpanel 35.

Example of processes and component for achieving such functionality aredescribed below in the present document with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6described below.

For the purpose of simplicity and conciseness, while the control panel35 may provide many different functions, the description from hereonwill focus on the functionality and components pertaining to allowing auser to cause the bathing unit system 100 to operate in accordance withan ambience setting by way of a unitary user input event performed atthe control panel 35. It is to be understood that such functionality maybe provided instead of, or in combination with, other functionality inthe control panel 35 through suitable software and hardware componentsas will become readily apparent from the person skilled in the art inview of the description.

Control Panel 35

FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the control panel 35 of thebathing system 100 in accordance with a specific example ofimplementation of the present invention.

As depicted, the control panel 35 includes a user interface module 200and a processing assembly 206 in communication with one another overcommunication link 214. The control panel 35 may also include one ormore communications interfaces for receiving or sending data to externalelectronic devices. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the controlpanel 35 includes a communication interface 222 for allowing the controlpanel 35 to communicate with the controller 34 (shown in FIG. 1) bysending and/or receiving signals to/from the controller 34 overcommunication link 88. In specific practical implementations, thecommunication interface 222 may be a wired interface so that thecommunication between the control panel 35 and the controller 34 is madeover a wire-line link. Alternatively, the communication interface 222may be a wireless interface so that the communication between thecontrol panel 35 and the controller 34 is made over a wireless link,such as a RF link for example. Additional communication interfaces mayalso be provided at the control panel 35 in alternative embodiments.

User Interface Module 200

The user interface module 200 provides components for enablinginteractions with a user of the bathing unit system 100, includingreceiving information from and conveying information to the user. In theembodiment depicted, the user interface module 200 comprises one or moreuser input devices 38 and a display screen 33. The display screen 33 isoperative for receiving and processing display command signals from theprocessing assembly 206 for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI)to a user. The GUI may provide the user with information pertaining tothe bathing unit system 100, which may include for example watertemperature and operational status of various components for example. Inaddition, the GUI may enables the user to view various selectablecontrol options as well as allow the user to provide input commands forcontrolling various bathing unit components of the bathing unit systemthrough the one or more user input devices 38. In this regard, the GUImay implement a plurality of different display windows through which auser can navigate using the one or more user input device 38 in order toaccess desired information and provide desired inputs for adjusting andactivating operational settings of the bathing unit components.

As will be described later below, at least one user input device 32(herein referred to as user operable actuator 32) amongst the one ormore user input devices 38 allows a user to cause the control panel 35to generate control signals conveying an ambiance activation commandassociated with a specific ambience setting by performing a unitary userinput event, the control signals being for causing the bathing unitsystem 100 to transition from being in a first operational mode (forexample a rest mode) to operating in accordance with the specificambiance setting.

The nature of the user operable actuator 32, and therefore the nature ofthe type of unitary user input event performed by the user at thecontrol panel 35, may differ in different implementations. For example,the user operable actuator 32 may be in the form of a tactile zone onthe display 33, a mechanically operated actuator (such as a switch or apush-button for example), a light detection module, a movement detectionmodule and/or any other suitable user operable actuator allowing a userto perform a unitary user input event. In specific practicalimplementations, the user operable actuator 32 may comprise a trackball,mouse, gyroscope remote (which senses movement of the device in the airso as to move a cursor), a keypad, a touch sensitive screen, turn-dials,turn-and-push dials (such as iDrive™ from BMW®), a stylus pen or amicrophone, among other possibilities. The user operable actuator 32 mayalso include one or a combination of any or all of the above inputdevices.

Depending on the nature of the user operable actuator 32, the unitaryuser input event for causing the bathing unit system to transition frombeing in a first operational mode (for example a rest mode) to operatingin accordance with the specific ambiance setting may be manual, visual(for example a light or an absence of light), auditory (noise), (or)kinesthetic (a movement) or any other suitable type of actuation. In aspecific non-limiting implementation, the user operable actuator 32 maybe in the form of a tactile zone on the display 33 of the control panel35 and may optionally be configured for providing haptic feedback. Inanother specific non-limiting implementation, the user operable actuator32 may be in the form of a mechanically operated actuator (such apush-button or key for example) and the unitary user input event in suchcases may therefore be a manual actuation of the user operable actuator32 through a push-button like action for example. In another specificnon-limiting implementation, the user operable actuator 32 may be in theform of a motion detector and the unitary user input event in such casesmay therefore be a specific hand gesture. Many other examples ofimplementation are possible and will become apparent to the personskilled in the art after reading of the present document.

In practical implementations in which the user operable actuator 32 isin the form of a push-button, it will be observed that for furtherfacilitating use and/or recognition, the user operable actuator 32 mayhave physical features that may distinguish it from other push-buttonsthat may be present on the user interface module 200 and/or physicalfeatures that may convey to a user the nature of a function it provides.For example, the user operable actuator 32 in the form a push-button mayhave a distinguishing color (e.g. green or red) while other push-buttonsmay have another color, such as black or grey and/or a distinguishingstructure, e.g. a specific shape and/or an embossed or debossed surfaceand/or printed unique symbol appearing thereon, and/or be of a size thatis larger than that of other push-buttons that may be present on theuser interface module 200. In a non-limiting implementation, the useroperable actuator 32 may be a push-button labelled “Quick-start” or“Easy-start” (the label appearing either directly on the push-button orin the vicinity thereof) to convey to a user of the system that thebathing unit system can be activated through the unitary user inputevent of performing a push-button like action with the user operableactuator 32. A myriad of alternate implementations will be apparent fromthe present description and as such, will not be further described here.

Processing Assembly 206

As mentioned above, the user interface module 200 is in communicationwith the processing assembly 206 over communication link 214. Theprocessing assembly 206 includes suitable hardware, firmware and/orexecutable software code for implementing various functions for thecontrol panel 35.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the processing assembly 206includes a memory device 208 and a processing unit 210 in communicationwith one another over a communication bus 212.

The memory device 208 stores program instructions executable by theprocessing unit 210 as well as data and may be comprised of a singlememory unit or of a plurality of memory units. When the memory device208 is comprised of a plurality of memory units, the memory units may beof a same type or of different types.

As part of the data, the memory device 208 may store a set of ambiancesettings including one or more ambiance settings, where each ambiencesetting is associated with a corresponding set of operational settingsfor bathing unit components in the bathing unit system 100 to obtain adesired total effect (or ambience) for the bathing unit system 100.

More specifically, information conveying different ambience settings maybe stored in the memory device 208 and may be pre-programmed, forexample at the time of manufacturing of the user control panel 35 orthrough a user or manufacturer initiated software update process.Alternatively, or in addition to the above, one or more of the ambiencesettings stored in memory device 208 may be programmed by a user throughthe user interface module 200 or via another suitably programmed remoteuser computing device. Ambiences may be programmed through the userinterface module 200 or via another suitably programmed remote usercomputing device in any suitable manner known in the art. For example,methods of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,644,960 entitled“Method and system for providing ambiance settings in a bathing system”,may be used to create and store new ambiences in the memory device 208.Alternatively, some or all the operational setting associated with oneor more of the ambience settings may be stored on a memory deviceexternal to memory device 208, such as for example on a portable memorydevice or, alternatively, in the memory device 42 of the controller 34(shown in FIG. 1) and be electronically accessible via the control panel35.

In practical implementations of the present invention, the set ofambient settings may include at least one ambiance settings associatedwith different types of bathing unit components; for example, heatingmodule 30, water pumps 11 and 13, air blower 28, lighting units (notshown), audio system (not shown), and the like. In an alternateembodiment, the set of ambient settings may include two or more of theambiance settings associated with different types of bathing unitcomponents.

It should be appreciated that one or more bathing unit components may beassociated to each type of bathing unit component may include, and thecontrol panel 35 may be configured to include pre-programmed operationalsettings for the multiple bathing unit components of a given type ofbathing unit component.

The ambiance settings may include pre-programmed component activationstatus, for example, for a given ambiance setting, the ambiance settingwould cause activation of water pumps 11 and 13, but deactivation of airblower 28. Additionally or alternatively, ambiance settings may includepre-programmed operational settings for a level of activation of eachbathing unit component; for example, in the above ambiance setting, theambiance setting would cause activation of the heating module such thatthe water temperature would acquire a 104° F. water temperature, and theaudio system to broadcast the “Wine, New Bern” internet radio stationout of North Carolina.

In other words, the pre-programmed ambiance settings may causeactivation of operational settings associated with different types ofbathing unit components, such as variable speed water pumps for waterjets, the lighting units, the audio system, the heating module, thesanitization system, and the like. Furthermore, an ambiance settinginstead of causing the activation of a single speed for a pump, maycause the activation of a pre-programmed massage function for eachvariable speed pump that provides a sequence of different speedsaccording to a pre-defined massage profile.

As for the light, the ambiance setting may cause the activation of adesired color, a desired light intensity, or pre-programmed colorsequences to create some ambiance effect.

Although the bathing unit component types for which operational settingshave been described above as comprising the water heater, the waterpumps, the lighting units, the variable speed pumps for the water jets,the audio system, and the sanitization system, it should be appreciatedthat the bathing unit component types could also include additional orfewer bathing unit component types known in the art.

Examples of pre-programmed ambiance settings may thus include pre-setambiance settings such as a “relaxation setting”, a “beach party”setting, an “after work” setting, or ambiance settings associated withuser identification information, such as “Jen's setting”, “Ben'ssetting” and/or identification information associated with a personalelectronic device belonging to a specific person (for example a mediaaccess control addresses (MAC address) of a smartphone, smart watch,personal wearable electronic activity tracker and the like), or ambiancesettings associated with a previously used setting such as “last usedsetting” and/or or ambiance settings associated with specific timinginformation (such as time of day, day of the week and/or time of theyear for example). Each setting may be associated with a respective setof operational settings for a set of bathing unit components. Forexample, in the case of the “relaxation setting”, the water jets may bepre-programmed to acquire a low jet speed, the lighting units may bepre-programmed to provide dim white light, and the audio system may bepre-programmed to acquire a soundtrack mimicking sounds of the ocean. Incontrast, in the case of the “beach party setting”, the water jets maybe pre-programmed to acquire a high jet speed, the lighting units may bepre-programmed to acquire a flashing colors of light, a sanitationsystem is pre-programmed to be on a multi-person level, and the audiosystem may be pre-programmed to play an MP3 playlist of Caribbean music.As will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, the specificoperational settings associated with each ambiance setting can varysignificantly and the present invention is not limited to any specificpre-programmed operational settings.

The ambiance settings may be programmed by a manufacturer of the bathingunit system 100 or by an individual user. For example, the manufacturerof the bathing unit system 100 may pre-program a plurality of differentambiance settings into the memory device 208. It is also possible for auser of the bathing unit system 100 to program one or more differentambiance settings into the memory device 208 through the user interfacemodule 200. The manufacturer of the bathing unit system 100, or a thirdparty, may also offer pre-programmed ambiance settings for download tomemory unit 208.

The processing unit 210, which may include one or more processors, is incommunication with the memory device 208 and is configured for accessingand processing program instructions and data stored within the memorydevice 208. The program instructions stored in the memory device 208,when executed by the processing unit 210, may implement at least somefunctions of the control panel 35 including, for example but withoutbeing limited to, the processing of signals originating from the userinterface module 200. For example, the processing unit 210 may process asignal generated as a result of actuation of one or more of the userinput devices 38 in order to generate signals to either cause displaysignals to be sent to the display 33 in order to display a specific GUIand/or to generate suitable control commands to be sent to the bathingunit controller 34 in order to control operational settings ofcomponents in the bathing unit system in a specific manner. For example,the program instructions stored in the memory device 208 may implement amenu driven interface through which a user can navigate by actuating theuser input devices 38 and be presented on the display device with a setof selectable ambience options. As another example, the processing unit210 may process signals originating from the bathing unit controller 34in order to derive display signals to be sent to the display 33 in orderto display a specific GUI. For example, the signals originating from thebathing unit controller 34 may convey status information and/ornotifications pertaining to the operational status one or more of thebathing unit components in the bathing unit system 10 and/or informationobtained from sensors in the bathing unit system (e.g. watertemperature, ambient temperature, water quality and the like). Functionsof the type described above are well known in the field of bathing unitsystems and therefore will not be described further here as they may beimplemented in accordance with any suitable manner known in the art.

The features implemented by the program instructions stored in thememory device 208 also include functionality for generating controlsignals conveying an ambiance activation command associated with aspecific ambience setting following a unitary user input event beingperformed at the user interface module trough user operable actuator 32.Specific manners in which such functionality may be implemented will nowbe described with reference to FIG. 5 of the drawings.

In particular, FIG. 5 shows a process for causing a bathing unit systemto transition from operating according to a first operational mode tooperating according to a second operational mode, in this case aspecific ambience setting, following a unitary user input event beingperformed at the user interface module trough user operable actuator 32.

As shown in FIG. 5, at step 500, the bathing unit system is shown asoperating according to a first operational mode.

In a first practical example, the first operational mode may be a restmode and the second operational mode may be a specific ambience setting.The rest mode may be an operational mode in which the bathing unitsystem is unlikely to be in use by a bather. For example, in the restmode, bathing unit components involved in water circulation, filteringand heating may be operated (either normally or in a reduced manner) butjets, lights, entertainment and other such components may bedeactivated. The actual operational configuration of the bathing unitsystem 100 components in the rest mode will be apparent to the person ofskill and will thus not be further described here. In the rest mode, thedisplay 33 33A 33B (shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) may in someimplementations be deactivated in order to conserve energy or,alternatively, may display a screen-saver type of image.

In an alternative embodiment, the first operational mode may be anambience setting distinct from the specific ambience setting.

At step 501, the control panel 35 is shown as monitoring user inputevent performed. For the purpose of simplicity, the example will only beconcerned of a user input event being performed using the user operableactuator 32, wherein the user input event corresponds to a unitary userinput event. As described above, the unitary user input event performedat the control panel is an actuation of the user operable actuator bythe user at the control panel. While no user input event is detected atthe control panel 35, the process remains at steps 500 and 501 where thebathing unit system continues to operate according to the firstoperational mode. If a user input event (corresponding to a unitary userinput event) is detected at step 501, the process proceeds to step 502.

At step 502, the processing unit 210 processes the signal generated bythe unitary user input event in order to select a specific ambiencesetting from a set of ambience settings stored in memory device 208(shown in FIG. 2).

In a situation in which the set of ambience settings stored in memorydevice 208 includes only one ambience setting, at step 502, theprocessing unit 210 may select as the specific ambience setting the onlyambience setting stored in the memory device 208.

In a situation in which the set of ambience settings stored in memorydevice 208 may include two or more selectable ambience settings, at step502, the processing unit 210 may select the specific ambience settingbased on various criteria independent from information provided by theuser through the actuation of the user operable actuator 32.

In a first example, the specific ambience setting selected from the setof ambience settings may correspond to an ambience setting most recentlyused to operate the bathing unit system. In such a case, the processingunit 210 may be programmed to store information identifying one or moreof the most recently selected ambience in the memory device 208. Theambience may have been defined and/or selected in any suitable mannerwhen operating the bathing unit system. For example, the ambiencesetting most recently used to operate the bathing unit system may havebeen defined and/or selected according to methods of the type describedin U.S. Pat. No. 8,644,960 entitled “Method and system for providingambiance settings in a bathing system”, for example. The contents of theaforementioned documents are incorporated herein by reference. In such acase, the processing unit 210 may be programmed to the set of ambientsetting to select the ambience setting most recently used to operate thebathing unit system. In another embodiment, the selection may be basedon a randomization process to select a corresponding one amongst one ormore most recently used ambiance setting. It is to be understood that amyriad of other implementations of the selection of a corresponding oneof the one or more of the last used ambiance setting can be employed.Such alternative implementations will become apparent to the personskilled in the art in light of the present specification and as suchwill not be described further here.

In a second example, the specific ambience setting selected from the setof ambience settings may corresponds to a default ambience setting. Thedefault ambience setting may be pre-programmed in the memory device 208and selected (for example at the time of manufacturing) or may beprogrammed and/or selected as the default ambience setting by a user ofthe bathing unit system through the user interface module 200 (shown inFIG. 2) by providing suitable user interface functionality and/orthrough any other suitable manner, for example by using a remote orauxiliary device to upload information conveying ambience settings inwhich at least one ambience setting is identified as a default ambiencesetting.

In a third example, at least some ambience settings in the set ofambience settings stored in the memory device 208 may be associated torespective time periods, for example respective days of the week,respective times of the year, respective periods of the day, respectivetimes (hours, minutes) for example. The time periods convey whenassociated ambience settings should be favored when a selection is to bemade. The time periods to which are associated at least some ambiencesettings may be pre-programmed in the memory device 208 and pre-selected(for example at the time of manufacturing) or may be programmed and/orselected by a user of the bathing unit system through the user interfacemodule 200 (shown in FIG. 2) by providing suitable user interfacefunctionality and/or using any other suitable manner, for example byusing a remote or auxiliary device to upload into the memory device 208information conveying ambience settings in which one or more ambiencesettings are associated to respective time periods. In such a case, theprocessing unit 210 may be programmed to process information associatedwith current timing information to select the specific ambience settingfrom the set of set of ambience settings stored in the memory device atleast in part based on the current timing information. The informationassociated with current timing information may convey one or more ofmonth information, weekday information, period of day information, hoursand/or minutes for example. In this manner the specific ambience settingselected may vary according to the time of day (e.g. morning or evening)or the day of the week (e.g. weekday or weekend) or time of year (e.g.winter months or summers months). For example, the type of music playedand the intensity of the jets may be different according to whether thebathing unit system is being used in the morning or in the evening orwhether the bathing unit system is being used on a week day or duringthe weekend. In a practical example, when the user performs the unitaryuser input event at the user operable actuator 32 on a Monday eveningafter work, say at 7 pm, the processing unit 210 processes informationassociated with the current timing information, i.e. the time of day,the day in week, to select the specific ambience setting from the set ofambience settings stored in the memory device 208, for example, thespecific ambiance setting associated with “work day” (Monday) and“after” (7 pm), namely “after work” ambiance settings. In anotherexample, when a user actuates the user operable actuator 32 on aSaturday afternoon of the month of July, say at 2 pm, the processingunit 210 processes information associated with the current timinginformation to select, for example, the ambiance setting associated with“non-work day” (Saturday), “summer” (July in the Northern hemisphere)and “day” (2 pm), namely “Beach party”.

In a fourth specific non-limiting implementation, at least some ambiencesettings in the set of ambience settings stored in the memory device 208may be associated to respective ambient temperatures or ambienttemperature ranges. The ambient temperatures or ambient temperatureranges convey at which ambient temperatures associated ambience settingsshould be favored when selections are made. The ambient temperatures orambient temperature ranges to which are associated at least someambience settings may be pre-programmed in the memory device 208 andpre-selected (for example at the time of manufacturing) or may beprogrammed and/or selected by a user of the bathing unit system throughthe user interface module 200 (shown in FIG. 2) by providing suitableuser interface functionality and/or using any other suitable manner, forexample by using a remote or auxiliary device to upload informationconveying ambience settings in which one or more ambience settings areassociated to respective time periods. In such implementation, thecontrol panel 35 (shown in FIG. 2) may include (or be in communicationwith) an ambient temperature sensor 218 in order to obtain measurementsconveying an ambient temperature. In such a case, the processing unit210 may be programmed to process information conveying an ambienttemperature base on ambient temperature measurements obtained by theambient temperature sensor 218 to select the specific ambience settingfrom the set of set of ambience settings stored in the memory device atleast in part based on current ambient temperature measurements. In thismanner the specific ambience setting selected may vary according to theambient temperature (e.g. warm day, cold day, sunny, cloudy, humiditylevel and the like). While ambient temperature sensor 218 has been shownin FIG. 2 as being a component of the control panel 35, it is to beappreciated that such an ambient temperature sensor may be positionedelsewhere in the bathing unit system and the ambient temperaturemeasurements taken may be communicated to the control panel in anysuitable manner. For example, an ambient temperature sensor may bepositioned at the controller 34 so that such measurements are receivedat the controller 34 rather than at the control panel 35. In such animplementation, the controller 34 may be programmed to transmit themeasurements conveying an ambient temperature to the control panel 35over a communication link so that such measurements are received by thecontrol panel 35 at port 222 (shown in FIG. 2). Other variants ofimplementation are possible and will become apparent to the personskilled in the art in view of the present description.

In a fifth example, at least some ambience settings in the set ofambience settings stored in the memory device 208 may be associated torespective user identifiers. The user identifiers may specify whichambience settings should be favored for different users of the bathingunit system. In such implementations, the selection of the specificambience setting from the set of ambience settings stored in the memorydevice may be performed at least in part by processing informationassociated with a user identity. For example, the memory device 208 caninclude the “Jen” and the “Ben” ambiance settings, where each ambiancesetting is associated with a particular user (i.e., each one of “Jen”and “Ben”). The user identifiers to which are associated at least someambience settings may be programmed and/or selected by a user of thebathing unit system through the user interface module 200 by providingsuitable user interface functionality and/or using any other suitablemanner, for example by using a remote or auxiliary device to uploadinformation conveying ambience settings in which some ambience settingsare associated with respective user identifiers. In some specificembodiments, the user identifiers may be associated to auxiliaryelectronic devices that users may carry or wear when using or being inproximity to the bathing unit system (for example smart phone, smartwatch, wearable electronic activity tracker (such as a fitness band)and/or any other suitable device). In an alternative embodiment, theuser identifiers may be associated to auxiliary electronic devices thatmay be implanted in users, such as for example an RFID or NFC chipimplanted in a portion of a user's body (for example in a user's hand,arm, leg or other suitable body part). Such devices are commerciallyavailable. For example, the company Dangerous Things provides a 13.56MHz ISO14443A & NFC Type 2 NTAG216 RFID chipset that is encased in a2×12 mm cylindrical biocompatible glass casing and comes pre-loaded inan injection syringe assembly. It is to be appreciated that these areonly examples and that other devices may be used to allow useridentification information to be obtained.

In cases where user identification information is used as a criterion toselect a specific ambience setting, the processing unit 210 may beprogrammed to process information associated with a user identity toselect the specific ambience setting from the set of set of ambiencesettings stored in the memory device 208. In this manner the specificambience setting selected may vary according to the user of the bathingunit system so that a distinct desired total effect may be achieveddepending on who is using the bathing unit system.

In some practical implementations, the information associated with theuser identity may be received at the control panel 35 via a useridentification signal, which may originate from an auxiliary deviceexternal to the bathing unit system.

In specific non-limiting implementations of a first type, the useridentification signal may be transmitted over a wireless communicationlink, such as for example a radio frequency (RF) link, directly to thecontrol panel 35. In such implementation, the control panel may includea receiving antenna 420 (shown in FIG. 2) configured for establishing acommunication link with the auxiliary device. The auxiliary device maybe any suitable device capable of communicating information conveyinguser identity information such as, for example but without being limitedto, a smartphone, a smartwatch, a wearable electronic activity tracker(such as a fitness band) and/or a near-field communication (NFC) or RFIDenabled device. As mentioned above, in a specific practical example ofimplementation, the auxiliary device may be in the form of an RFID orNFC chip implanted in a portion of a user's body (for example in auser's hand, arm, leg or other suitable body part). In a non-limitingimplementation, the user identifiers may convey media access controladdresses (MAC address) associated to the auxiliary devices and at leastsome ambience setting stored in the memory device 208 (shown in FIG. 2)may be associated to respect MAC addresses thereby indirectlyassociating ambience settings to specific users via the electronicdevices they may be carrying and/or wearing. Any suitable communicationprotocol and associated software/hardware component may be provided toallow the control panel 35 communication with the auxiliary device. In anon-limiting example of implementation, a protocol suitable for shortrange communication, such as Bluetooth for example, may be used.

While the receiving antenna 420 for receiving user identificationinformation has been shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 as being a component of thecontrol panel 35, it is to be appreciated that such a device may bepositioned elsewhere in the bathing unit system. In such animplementation, rather than being transmitted to the control panel 35directly from the auxiliary device, the user identification signal maybe transmitted over a wireless communication link to the control panel35 through one or more other component of the bathing unit system, suchas for example through the controller of the bathing unit and/or throughan audio/visual component of the system. In implementations of thisalternate type, the controller 34, audio/visual component (not shown)and/or other component of the bathing unit system 100 (shown in FIG. 1)may be equipped with hardware and software components suitable to allowestablishing a wireless communication link with the auxiliary device (toreceive the user identification signal) and to establish anothercommunication link with the control panel 35 over which data conveyingthe user identity may be transmitted. For example, a communicationantenna may be positioned at the controller 34 so that such useridentification information may be received at the controller 34 and thecontroller 34 may be programmed to transmit data conveying the useridentification information to the control panel 35 over a communicationlink so that such information is received by the control panel 35 atport 222 (shown in FIG. 2). Other variants of implementation arepossible and will become apparent to the person skilled in the art inview of the present description.

In some specific practical implementations, the criteria for selectingthe specific ambience setting from the set of ambience settings storedin the memory device may be used independently or in combination. Forexample, a specific ambience setting may be associated to a specificuser identifier and to certain timing information (time of day and/orday of the week. Many other combinations are possible and will becomeapparent to persons skilled in the art in light of the present document.

FIG. 6 shows a functional block diagram of the processing assembly 206of the control panel 35 of FIG. 2 in accordance with a non-limitingexample of implementation together with a functional block diagram of anauxiliary device 450 suitable for providing user identificationinformation. The auxiliary device 450 and the processing assembly 206are configured to establish a communication link 175 there between forenabling the processing assembly 206 to receive information from, and/ortransmit information to, the auxiliary device 450. In particular, theauxiliary device 450 may be configured for transmitting useridentification information 260, which may be stored in a memory 454 ofthe auxiliary device 450. The memory 454 of the auxiliary device 450 mayalso store suitable instructions 456, which when executed by processingunit 452, allow for the transmittal of user identification information460 to the processing assembly 206 over communication link 175. Thecommunication link may be a wireless communication link, such as forexample a short range radio frequency (RF) link. The auxiliary devicemay be any suitable device capable of communicating informationconveying user identity such as, for example but without being limitedto, a smartphone, a smartwatch, wearable electronic activity tracker(such as a fitness band) and/or a near-field communication (NFC) enableddevice. In a specific practical example of implementation, the auxiliarydevice may be in the form of an RFID or NFC chip implanted in a portionof a user's body (for example in a user's hand, arm, leg or othersuitable body part). Any suitable communication protocol and associatedsoftware/hardware component may be provided at the topside control panelto allow the topside control panel to receive communications from theauxiliary device. In a non-limiting example of implementation, hardwareand a protocol suitable for short range communication, such as Bluetoothfor example, may be used. In a non-limiting implementation, the useridentifiers may convey media access control addresses (MAC address)associated to the auxiliary devices. It will however be appreciated thatthe user identifiers may be of different form such as for example usernames, e-mail addresses or any other mechanism for allowing informationconveying an identity of a user of the bathing unit system to beconveyed to the processing assembly 206.

As yet another example, user identity information may be obtained at thecontrol panel 35 via a finger print taken from the user of the bathingunit. In such cases, the user identification signal received at thecontrol panel 35 may be in the form of a finger print scan and thecontrol panel 35 may be equipped with suitable hardware for generatingthe finger print scan, such as a finger print scanner, and suitablesoftware for processing the figure print scan in order to use the fingerprint scan as an indicator of user identity. In specific practicalimplementations, the finger print scanner may be located on the controlpanel 35 so that a user may place his/her finger on the finger printscanner for scanning prior to (or concurrently with) with the performingof the unitary user input event at the control panel 35. In somespecific practical implementations, the finger print scanner may be anintegral component of the user operable actuator 32 used to perform theunitary user input at the control panel 35. For example, in specificimplementations in which the user operable actuator 32 (shown in FIG. 2)is in the form of a tactile zone, push-button or other manually operableactuator, the finger print scanner may be integrated within suchdevices. In such an implementation, when a user performs the unitaryuser input event contemplated (for example performing a push-button likeaction, touching or pressing the actuator with one or more fingers), afinger print scan function may be concurrently performed at the controlpanel 35 in order to obtain user identification information, which maythen be used as a criterion in the selection of an ambience setting inthe bathing unit system.

Other examples of implementations will become apparent to the reader inview of the teachings of the present description and as such, will notbe further described here.

Returning to FIG. 5, as a result of step 502, a specific ambiencesetting has been selected from the one or more ambience settings storedin memory device 208. In some examples, the specific ambience settingmay be characterized by a first operational setting for at least onebathing unit component of a first type and a second operational settingfor at least one bathing unit component of a second type. It willhowever be appreciated that the specific ambience setting may becharacterized by any number of operational setting for any number ofbathing unit components of one or more different types.

Following step 502, the system may proceed to step 504 and, optionally,may proceed to step 520.

At step 520, which is an optional step, the processing unit 210 (shownin FIG. 2) may be further programmed for causing the display 33 todisplay information in response to the unitary user tactile input eventperformed by the user, the displayed information conveying the specificambiance setting selected at step 502. FIG. 7 shows an example of agraphical user interface that may be displayed by the user interfacemodule 200 of the control panel 35 of FIG. 2 following the processing ofa unitary input event performed by a user at the control panel 35. Asshown, the user interface module include a display 33C, analogous todisplay 33 shown in FIG. 2, and a user operable actuator 32C, analogousto user operable operator 32 shown in FIG. 2. The display 33C conveysoperational settings associated to various components in the bathingunit system. In the example shown, the display 33C conveys a watertemperature, the status of the different pumps and lights, informationpertaining to settings of a radio as well maintenance messages. It is tobe appreciated the type of information displayed and the manner in whichit is displayed may differ in different implementations. It is to beappreciated that step 520 may be omitted in some embodiments.

At step 504, the processing unit 210 generates a control signalconveying an ambiance activation command associated with the specificambience setting selected a step 502. The nature of the ambianceactivation command may vary in different implementations. For example,in some implementations, the ambiance activation command may convey thespecific operational settings associated to one or more bathing unitcomponents in the bathing unit system 100 characterizing the specificambience setting. In some other implementations, specific operationalsettings associated to one or more bathing unit components in thebathing unit system 100 characterizing the specific ambience setting maybe stored in the controller 34, the ambiance activation command mayconvey information identifying the specific ambience setting.

At step 506, the control signal conveying the ambiance activationcommand generated at step 504 is transmitted from the control panel 24to the controller 34 over communication link 88 (shown in FIG. 1).

At step 508, performed at the controller 34 (shown in FIG. 1), thecontrol signal conveying the ambiance activation command associated witha specific ambience setting sent from the control panel 24 is processedin order to cause the bathing unit system to transition from operatingin according with a first operational mode to operating in accordingwith the specific ambience setting. For example, in a case where thespecific ambience setting is characterized by a first operationalsetting for at least one bathing unit component of first type and asecond operational setting for at least one bathing unit component of asecond type, the controller 34 is configured for operating acorresponding one of the at least one bathing unit component of thefirst type according to the first operational setting and for operatinga corresponding one of the at least one bathing unit component of thesecond type according to the second operational setting.

The manner in which the controller 34 causes the bathing unit system totransition from operating in according with the first operational modeto operating in according with the specific ambience setting based onthe ambiance activation command may be implemented in any suitablemanner and will become readily apparent to the person skilled in the artin light of the present description.

Practical Examples of Implementation of the Control Panel 35

As will be appreciated, the control panel 35 described with reference toFIG. 2, may be embodied in many different manners in practice. Twospecific examples of implementation will now be described with referenceto FIGS. 3 and 4. It is to be understood that these example are merelypresented to illustrate manners in which some of the concepts describedabove may be implemented in practical embodiments. Other embodimentswill become apparent to the person skilled in the art in light of thepresent description

FIG. 3 shows a specific implementation of a control panel 35A, analogousto the control panel 35 shown in FIG. 2. The control panel 35A is in theform of a topside control panel and includes a housing upon which ispositioned a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly 20, the touchor presence-sensitive assembly 20 including one or more tactile zonesfor associating user tactile input to software-implemented actions. Thetouch or presence-sensitive assembly 20 may be in the form of anLCD/touch screen display device. The control panel 35A also includes acircuit board assembly 2060 positioned in the housing beneath the touchor presence-sensitive assembly 20 and electrically coupled thereto. Thecircuit board assembly 2060 includes a memory device, analogous tomemory device 208 (shown in FIG. 2) and a processing unit, analogous toprocessing unit 210 (also shown in FIG. 2). The memory device may storedata conveying a set of ambience settings and program instructions forallowing the control panel 35A to implement various functions.

In the embodiment shown, the display touch or presence-sensitiveassembly 20 includes a touch sensitive display screen portion 33A,analogous to display 33 (shown in FIG. 2), and a user operable actuatorin the form of a tactile zone 32A, analogous to user operable actuator32 (shown in FIG. 2). The touch sensitive display screen portion 33A mayprovide another tactile zone on the control panel. In a practicalimplementation, the touch sensitive display screen portion 33A may usecapacitive sensor technology, in which case it can sense changes incapacitance at areas of the display screen portion 33A caused bynearness of a user's finger or other object (such as a stylus) to thetouch sensitive layer. The topside control panel 35A may therefore betouch or presence-sensitive to the user's finger or other device such asa stylus. The sensitivity of the display screen portion 33A maytypically be adjusted, e.g., through software driver adjustment, so thatthe user may not need to even physically touch the cover layer toactuate a button or some other activity such as a swipe. The touchsensitive display screen portion 33A is responsive to changes incapacitance resulting from touching or close proximity of an object tothe touch or presence-sensitive layer to generate and transmit signalsto the processor in the circuit board assembly 2060. In a practicalimplementation, the LCD/touch screen display assembly 33A is a TFT LCD(thin film transistor liquid crystal display) module. Displays employingother known technologies may be used in alternate implementations andthus need not be described in greater detail here.

In specific practical implementations, the tactile zone 32A may providehaptic feedback when operated by a user in a push-button like action.The tactile zone 32A may in some cases include a mechanical actuatorpositioned below the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly 20which may be actuated when operated by a user in a push-button likeaction. Many other variants for implementing the tactile zone 32A arepossible and will become apparent to the person skilled in the art inview of the present description.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, actuation of the tactile zone 32A,for example when operated by a user in a push-button like action, causesa signal to be transmitted to the processor of the circuit boardassembly 2060 where it is processed in accordance with the programinstructions stored in a memory device.

In a specific implementation, the effect of the signal transmitted tothe processor of the circuit board assembly 2060 when the user operableactuator 32A is operated by a user in a push-button like action maydepend upon the operational mode in accordance to which the bathing unitsystem 100 is currently operating and/or on the information displayed onthe display 33A.

In a first specific practical implementation, take a situation in whichthe bathing unit system 100 is currently operating according to a restmode, wherein the rest mode is a mode in which the bathing unit systemis unlikely to be in use by a bather. For example, in a rest mode,bathing unit components involved in water circulation, filtering andheating may be operated but jets, lights, entertainment and other suchcomponents may be deactivated. When the bathing unit system 100 iscurrently operating according to a rest mode, the program instructionsstored in the memory device may cause the processor of the circuit boardassembly 2060 to process the signal transmitted by the unitary usertactile input event performed by the user (e.g. operating the useroperable actuator 32A in a push-button like action) to select a specificambience setting from a set of ambience settings stored in a memorydevice based upon one or more criteria (for example in a manneranalogous to what is described with reference to step 502 of FIG. 5) andto generate a control signal conveying an ambiance activation commandassociated with the specific ambience setting. The control signal maythen be transmitted to the controller 34.

In this manner, the bathing unit system can be caused to transitionbetween operating in accordance with a first operational mode (in thisexample a rest mode), to operating in accordance with a secondoperational mode (in this example according to the specific ambiencesetting), through the user performing a unitary user tactile input event(in this example operating the user operable actuator 32A in apush-button like action). It is to be appreciated that in thisembodiment, the display 33A does not need to display any selectableoptions to the user at the time the unitary user tactile input event isperformed and may in some cases be “OFF” when the user performs theunitary user tactile input event.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the program instructions stored in thememory device may cause the processor of the circuit board assembly 2060to generate a display signal for causing the touch sensitive displayscreen portion 33A to display information conveying the specificambiance setting selected in response to the unitary user input eventperformed by the user.

As mentioned above, the effect of the signal transmitted to theprocessor of the circuit board assembly 2060 when the user operableactuator 32A is operated by a user in a push-button like action maydepend upon the information displayed on the display 33A when the useroperates the user operable actuator 32A in a push-button like action sothat the generation of a control signal conveying the ambianceactivation command associated with the specific ambience setting is onlyperformed by the processor of the circuit board assembly 2060 is certainspecific cases. In a non-limiting implementation, generation of acontrol signal conveying the ambiance activation command associated withthe specific ambience setting may only performed when the display is offor when the display is in a rest mode. The person skilled in the artwill readily appreciate that such functionality may be implemented inmany different ways by providing a suitably programmed processor in thecircuit board assembly 2060.

FIG. 4 shows a second specific implementation of a control panel 35B,analogous to the control panel 35 shown in FIG. 2. The control panel 35Bis in the form of a topside control panel and includes a housing uponwhich is positioned a user interface module 200B, analogous to userinterface module 200 (shown in FIG. 2). The user interface module 200Bincludes a display screen 33B, analogous to display 33 (shown in FIG. 2)and one or more of the user input devices 70 32B, analogous to the userinput devices 38 (shown in FIG. 2).

The control panel 35B also includes a circuit board assembly 2065positioned in the housing beneath the user interface module 200B andelectrically coupled thereto. The circuit board assembly 2065 includes amemory device, analogous to memory device 208 and a processing unit,analogous to processing unit 210. The memory device may store a set ofambience settings and program instructions for allowing the controlpanel 35B to implement various functions of the type described withreference to FIG. 2.

The one or more of the user input devices 70 32B include a set ofpush-buttons 70 configured for allowing a user to navigate through amenu driven interface generated by the processing unit of the circuitboard assembly 2065 and displayed on the display screen 33B. In theexample shown, each of the push-buttons in the set 70 may be actuated bya user by performing a push-button like action. The menu driveninterface may be implemented in accordance with any suitable methodknown in the art.

The one or more of the user input devices 70 32B also includes a useroperable actuator 32B, analogous to user operable actuator 32 shown inFIG. 2. In the example depicted user operable actuator 32B is in form ofa mechanical actuator, specifically a push-button, which may be actuatedby a user by performing a push-button like action. Many other variantsfor implementing user input devices 70 32B are possible and will becomeapparent to the person skilled in the art in view of the presentdescription.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, actuation of the user operableactuator 32B, for example when operated by a user in a push-button likeaction, causes a signal to be transmitted to the processor of thecircuit board assembly 2065 where it is processed in accordance with theprogram instructions stored in a memory device.

In a specific implementation, the effect of the signal transmitted tothe processor of the circuit board assembly 2065 when the user operableactuator 32B is operated by a user in a push-button like action may beindependent from the operational mode in accordance to which the bathingunit system 100 is currently operating and/or may be independent fromthe information displayed on the display 33B.

In a first specific practical implementation, take a situation in whichthe bathing unit system 100 is currently operating according to a restmode, wherein the rest mode is a mode in which the bathing unit systemis unlikely to be in use by a bather. When the bathing unit system 100is currently operating according to the rest mode, the programinstructions stored in the memory device may cause the processor of thecircuit board assembly 2065 to process the signal transmitted by theunitary user tactile input event performed by the user (e.g. operatingthe user operable actuator 32B in a push-button like action) to select aspecific ambience setting from a set of ambience settings stored in amemory device based upon one or more criteria (for example in a manneranalogous to what is described with reference to step 502 of FIG. 5) andto generate a control signal conveying an ambiance activation commandassociated with the specific ambience setting. The control signal wouldthen be transmitted to the controller 34.

In this manner, the bathing unit system can be caused to transitionbetween operating in accordance with a first operational mode (in thisexample a rest mode), to operating in accordance with a secondoperational mode (in this example according to the specific ambiencesetting), through the user performing a unitary user tactile input event(in this example operating the user operable actuator 32B in apush-button like action). As such, the need for the user to navigateusing the keys 70 through a menu driven interface that would bedisplayed on the display 33B in order to operate in accordance with aspecific ambience setting may be by-passed by a unitary user tactileinput event (in this example operating the user operable actuator 32B ina push-button like action). It is to be appreciated that in thisembodiment, the display 33B does not need to display any selectableoptions to the user and may in some cases be “OFF” when the userperforms the unitary user tactile input event.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the program instructions stored in thememory device may cause the processor of the circuit board assembly 2065to generate a display signal for causing the display screen portion 33Bto display information conveying the specific ambiance setting selectedin response to the unitary user input event performed by the user.

In a second specific practical implementation, take a situation in whichthe bathing unit system 100 is currently operating according to a firstspecific ambience setting. When the bathing unit system 100 is currentlyoperating according to a first specific ambience setting, the programinstructions stored in the memory device may cause the processor of thecircuit board assembly 2065 to process the signal transmitted by theunitary user tactile input event performed by the user (e.g. operatingthe user operable actuator 32B in a push-button like action) to select asecond specific ambience setting from a set of ambience settings storedin a memory device (for example in a manner analogous to what isdescribed with reference to step 502 of FIG. 5) and to generate acontrol signal conveying an ambiance activation command associated withthe second specific ambience setting. The control signal is then betransmitted to the controller 34.

In this manner, the bathing unit system can be caused to transitionbetween operating in accordance with a first operational mode (in thisexample a first specific ambience setting), to operating in accordancewith a second operational mode (in this example according to the secondspecific ambience setting), through the user performing a unitary usertactile input event (in this example operating the user operableactuator 32B in a push-button like action). It is to be appreciated thatin this embodiment, the display 33B does not need to display anyselectable options to the user and may in some cases be “OFF” when theuser performs the unitary user tactile input event. This embodimentwould allow a bathing unit system in which settings were altered by theuser through the user input devices 70 to revert to a desired specificambience setting (for example to revert to a default ambience setting)through the user simply performing a unitary user tactile input event(in this example operating the user operable actuator 32B in apush-button like action). As such, the need for the user to navigateusing the keys 70 through a menu driven interface that would bedisplayed on the display 33B in order to revert to a desired specificambience setting may be by-passed by a unitary user tactile input event(in this example operating the user operable actuator 32B in apush-button like action).

Although the user operable actuator 32B shown in FIG. 4 is in the formof a push-button, it should be appreciated that any other type, orcombination, of user input devices known in the art may be used,including without being limited to a pointing device, trackball, mouse,remote gyroscope (which senses movement of the device in the air so asto move a cursor), a keypad, a touch sensitive screen, turn-dials,turn-and-push dials, a stylus pen or a microphone, among otherpossibilities.

In alternate embodiments, not shown in the Figures, the display 33 maybe omitted and the control panel 35 may instead comprise a user operableactuator 32 alone or with one or more other components such as a speakeror a set of lights, which could serve to provide audio or light feedbackto the user in response to actuation of the user operable actuator 32.

Installation in a Bathing Unit System

As mentioned above, the process and control panel 35 described above arefor use in connection with bathing unit systems in order to facilitatethe control of such systems. Such bathing unit systems can include spashaving spa tubs, although it will be appreciated that the subject mattermay be practiced in connection with other bathing unit systems, such aswhirlpool baths and pools.

In a typical installation, the control panel 35 (including theembodiments 35A and 35B depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 for example), may bemounted to a surface of a bathing unit system.

A specific example of such an installation on a bathing unit system100′, analogous to bathing unit system 100 shown in FIG. 1, is depictedin FIG. 8 of the drawings.

As shown, the bathing unit system 100′ includes a receptacle 180′(analogous to receptacle 180 shown in FIG. 1) for holding water, thereceptacle having a peripheral wall 132A upon which a control panel 35′,analogous to control panel 35, is positioned. While not shown, thebathing unit system 100′ of FIG. 8 also includes a plurality of bathingunit components including at least a circulation pump and a heater. Thebathing unit system 100′ also includes a controller (not shown), of thetype described with reference to controller 34 shown in FIG. 1, incommunication with the control panel 35′ for controlling operationalsettings associated with the bathing unit components in accordance withthe principles described earlier in the present document.

In this exemplary practical implementation, the control panel 35′ is atopside control panel and is positioned on an upper portion ofperipheral wall 132A of the receptacle 180′.

In typical installations, the peripheral wall 132A of the receptacle180′ may be fabricated in part using a moldable material, such asfiberglass or other materials, including metal and ceramic materials forexample. In a practical implementation, the topside control panel 35′may be installed is a pre-made mount opening formed on the peripheralwall 132A or by drilling or otherwise forming such an opening in thebathing unit receptacle peripheral wall. The topside control panel 35′is the installed so that wiring is passed through the mount opening tothat it can be suitably connected to the controller. The topside controlpanel may further be secured in place upon the peripheral wall 132Ausing any suitable mounting fasteners and/or adhesives and/or mountinggaskets.

While the control panel 35′ has been shown as mounted to a peripheralwall 132A of the receptacle 180′, it will however be apparent to theperson skilled in the art that the control panel 35′ may be mounted inother suitable locations on the receptacle 180′, including for examplealong the spa skirt 550.

Moreover, while the control panel 35′ has been shown as being mounteddirected to a surface of the receptacle 180′, it is to be appreciatedthat it may be mounted on a suitable structure that is located remotelyfrom the receptacle 180′, such as for example on a wall of an outdoorstructure, on an inside/outside wall of a house, integrated in a freestanding structure that can be positioned in general proximity to thebathing unit receptacle or on any other suitable structure.

The person skill in the art will appreciated that many variations to theembodiments described in the present document art possible and willbecome apparent from a reading of the present document concurrently withthe figures.

It will be understood by those of skill in the art that throughout thepresent specification, the term “a” used before a term encompassesembodiments containing one or more to what the term refers. It will alsobe understood by those of skill in the art that throughout the presentspecification, the term “comprising”, which is synonymous with“including,” “containing,” or “characterized by,” is inclusive oropen-ended and does not exclude additional, un-recited elements ormethod steps.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention pertains. In the case of conflict, thepresent document, including definitions will control.

As used in the present disclosure, the terms “around”, “about” or“approximately” shall generally mean within the error margin generallyaccepted in the art. Hence, numerical quantities given herein generallyinclude such error margin such that the terms “around”, “about” or“approximately” can be inferred if not expressly stated.

Although various embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light ofthe present description that numerous modifications and variations canbe made. The scope of the invention is defined more particularly in theappended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for causing a bathing unit systemto transition from being in a rest mode to operating in accordance withan ambience setting, the bathing system including a set of bathing unitcomponents, a controller for operating the set of bathing unitcomponents and a control panel in communication with the controller,said method comprising: a) providing a user operable actuator forgenerating a control signal in response to a unitary user input eventperformed by a user at the control panel, the control signal conveyingan ambiance activation command associated with a specific ambiencesetting, the generation of the control signal comprising selecting thespecific ambience setting from a set of ambience settings stored in amemory device, wherein the unitary user input event performed at thecontrol panel is an actuation of the user operable actuator by the userand wherein selecting the specific ambience setting from the set ofambience settings stored in the memory device is performed based oncriteria independent from information provided by the user through theactuation of the user operable actuator; b) transmitting the controlsignal conveying the ambiance activation command from the control panelto the controller over a communication link; c) at the controller,processing the control signal conveying the ambiance activation commandreceived from the control panel to cause the bathing unit system totransition from being in the rest mode to operating in accordance withthe specific ambience setting.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1,wherein the set of ambience settings includes two or more ambiencesettings.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the control panelincludes the user operable actuator.
 4. A method as defined in claim 3,wherein the actuation of the user operable actuator is a manualactuation of the user operable actuator.
 5. A method as defined claim 1,wherein said method comprises providing a menu driven interface on thecontrol panel for allowing the user to provide user selectioninformation to control operational settings of the bathing unit systemby navigating through the menu driven interface, said user operableactuator being operable by the user to perform the unitary user inputevent absent navigation through the menu driven interface provided onthe control panel.
 6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein thespecific ambience setting selected from the set of ambience settingscorresponds to an ambience setting in the set of ambience settings mostrecently used to operate the bathing unit system.
 7. A method as definedin claim 1, wherein the specific ambience setting selected from the setof ambience settings corresponds to a default ambience setting.
 8. Amethod as defined in claim 1, wherein at least some ambience settings inthe set of ambience settings are associated to respective time periodsand wherein said method comprises processing information associated withcurrent timing information to select the specific ambience setting fromthe set of set of ambience settings stored in the memory device at leastin part based on the current timing information.
 9. A method as definedin claim 8, wherein the information associated with current timinginformation conveys one or more of weekday information, period of dayinformation, hours and minutes.
 10. A method as defined in claim 1,wherein one or more ambience settings in the set of ambience settingsare associated with user identifiers.
 11. A method as defined in claim1, wherein said method comprises receiving user identificationinformation and selecting the specific ambience setting from the set ofambience settings stored in the memory device at least in part byprocessing the user identification information.
 12. A method as definedclaim 11, wherein the user identification information is received at thecontrol panel over a wireless communication link.
 13. A method asdefined claim 11, wherein the user identification information isreceived at the control panel from the controller of the bathing unitsystem.
 14. A method as defined claim 3, wherein the control panelincludes a display screen and wherein said method further comprisescausing the display screen to display information in response to theunitary user input event performed by the user at the control panel, thedisplayed information conveying the specific ambiance setting selected.15. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the specific ambiencesetting is characterized by at least: a) a first operational setting forat least one bathing unit component of first type; and b) a secondoperational setting for at least one bathing unit component of a secondtype.
 16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the bathing unitsystem is caused to transition from being in the rest mode to operatingin accordance with the specific ambience setting at least in part by: a)the controller operating a corresponding one of the at least one bathingunit component the first type of according to the first operationalsetting; and b) the controller operating a corresponding one of the atleast one bathing unit component the second type of according to thesecond operational setting.
 17. A method for causing a bathing unitsystem to transition from being in a first operational mode to operatingin accordance with an ambience setting, the bathing system including aset of bathing unit components, a controller for operating the set ofbathing unit components and a control panel in communication with thecontroller, the control panel displaying a graphical user interface,said method comprising: a) providing a user operable actuator on thegraphical user interface for generating a control signal in response toa unitary user input event performed by a user through the graphicaluser interface, the control signal conveying an ambiance activationcommand associated with a specific ambience setting, the generation ofthe control signal comprising selecting the specific ambience settingfrom a set of ambience settings stored in a memory device, wherein theunitary user input event is an actuation of the user operable actuatorby the user and wherein selecting the specific ambience setting from theset of ambience settings stored in the memory device is performed basedon criteria independent from information provided by the user throughthe actuation of the user operable actuator; b) transmitting the controlsignal conveying the ambiance activation command from the control panelto the controller over a communication link; c) at the controller,processing the control signal conveying the ambiance activation commandreceived from the control panel to cause the bathing unit system totransition from being in the first operational mode to operating inaccordance with the specific ambience setting.
 18. A method as definedin claim 17, wherein the first operational mode is a rest mode.
 19. Amethod as defined in claim 17, wherein the first operational mode is anambience setting distinct from said specific ambience setting.
 20. Amethod as defined in claim 19, wherein the set of ambience settingsincludes two or more ambience settings.
 21. A method as defined in claim19, wherein the actuation of the user operable actuator is a manualactuation of the user operable actuator.
 22. A method as defined claim19, wherein the graphical user interface implements a menu driveninterface for allowing the user to provide user selection information tocontrol operational settings of the bathing unit system by navigatingthrough the menu driven interface, said user operable actuator beingoperable by the user to perform the unitary user input event absentnavigation through the menu driven interface provided by the graphicaluser interface.
 23. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein thespecific ambience setting selected from the set of ambience settingscorresponds to an ambience setting in the set of ambience settings mostrecently used to operate the bathing unit system.
 24. A method asdefined in claim 19, wherein the specific ambience setting selected fromthe set of ambience settings corresponds to a default ambience setting.25. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein at least some ambiencesettings in the set of ambience settings are associated to respectivetime periods and wherein said method comprises processing informationassociated with current timing information to select the specificambience setting from the set of set of ambience settings stored in thememory device at least in part based on the current timing information.26. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein the information associatedwith current timing information conveys one or more of weekdayinformation, period of day information, hours and minutes.
 27. A methodas defined in claim 19, wherein one or more ambience settings in the setof ambience settings are associated with user identifiers.
 28. A methodas defined in claim 19, wherein said method comprises receiving useridentification information and selecting the specific ambience settingfrom the set of ambience settings stored in the memory device at leastin part by processing the user identification information.
 29. A methodas defined claim 19, wherein the user identification information isreceived at the control panel over a wireless communication link.
 30. Amethod as defined claim 29, wherein the user identification informationis received at the control panel from the controller of the bathing unitsystem.
 31. A method as defined claim 30, wherein said method furthercomprises causing the graphical user interface to display information inresponse to the unitary user input event performed by the user, thedisplayed information conveying the specific ambiance setting selected.32. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the specific ambiencesetting is characterized by at least: a) a first operational setting forat least one bathing unit component of first type; and b) a secondoperational setting for at least one bathing unit component of a secondtype.
 33. A method as defined in claim 32, wherein the bathing unitsystem is caused to transition from being in the rest mode to operatingin accordance with the specific ambience setting at least in part by: a)the controller operating a corresponding one of the at least one bathingunit component the first type of according to the first operationalsetting; and b) the controller operating a corresponding one of the atleast one bathing unit component the second type of according to thesecond operational setting.